by Malaka Wilson-Greene aka Afrafemme
As a black person, if someone kills you, you better had been a perfect student, or been nice to all your co-workers, and been obedient in every way possible, you had better not fought for your life, or stolen anything, or had children out of wedlock, or been on welfare, or been a gang member, or drug dealer. You had better not been wearing a hoodie, or Nikes, or baggy pants. If you can, please put on a suit before you get killed. You had better not have braids, if you plan on getting killed. You better not had gotten into a fight recently. Because having done those things means that you were worth shit. That you deserved to die. Please try to keep that in mind.
& If you plan on getting raped, you better be white. & if you can’t manage that, you better ask your rapist to be a stranger, someone who you weren’t in a relationship with, or out on a date with, or someone who you had sex with before. And you better not be a sex worker. Because sex workers cant be raped. Just so you know. You better be wearing long black clothes, be married, and be from a wealthy family. Make sure you are a virgin too. It would help also, if you were light skinned. if you had long hair. if you were thin. Dark skin marks you as a ho. As hypersexual. As undeserving of autonomy and bodily protection. Your rape doesn’t count. It would be good if you would keep this in mind.
& if your boyfriend beats you up. And you’re a black woman. You better have a reputation as a nice, quiet, docile woman. Because surely no one will care, if you talk back to your man, or if you stand up for yourself, or if you’re seen as a loud mouth ghetto bitch. if you plan on being in a violent relationship, make sure you’re educated and that you come from a two parent household. & make sure that this is the first time he’s ever hit you. You can’t forgive him & expect people to care when it happens again. This is a fact.
in short, if you want people to care about you or your life… you better NOT be black. or you better not act black. or you better not look black. you should be able to manage at least one of these. The thing is, when you’re a black person you never get the luxury of being innocent, of being a victim. You are already guilty. Your skin color says so.
Republished with permission from Afrafemme.
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